The 8 primal forces driving your reader

Use these to attract more readers, sell more products, and make more money

Hey there, Digital Writers!

I'm gonna go out on a limb here.

I bet you want your writing to have more impact, more engagement, more shares, and more clicks to purchase your stuff. Am I wrong? You wouldn't be reading this if you were satisfied with mediocre results.

Here's the thing:

No matter what you have, there's always MORE.

For example:

• I made a YouTube video. Now, I want a studio in my house.

• I bought a watch. Now, I collect timeless watches.

• I answered questions on Quora. Now, I make a living as a Digital Writer.

It's how life works.

And just like you and I want more—so do your readers.

As writers, we're not just stringing sentences together. We're connecting with humans who are driven by core desires. And when you write to your readers needs, wants, and desires they’ll engage, like, comment, share, repost, and happily spend more $$$ with you. Because you’ve helped them.

So how do we tap into that desire for more?

The secret lies in understanding what truly drives behavior.

Luckily, in Drew Eric Whitman’s book “CA$HVERTISING” he gives us a simple answer:

The Life Force 8

Whitman explains that we’re all born the same eight desires:

1. Survival, enjoyment of life, life extension

2. Enjoyment of food and beverages

3. Freedom from fear, pain, and danger

4. Sexual companionship

5. Comfortable living conditions

6. To be superior, winning, keeping up with the Joneses

7. Care and protection of loved ones

8. Social approval

The most persuasive writing appeals to at least one of these forces.

For example:

• Life Force 1 (Survival): "10 Superfoods That Slow Aging"

• Life Force 2 (Enjoyment): "The Comfort Food Guide To Beating Winter Blues"

• Life Force 3 (Safety): "7 Self-Defense Moves Every Woman Should Know"

• Life Force 4 (Companionship): "5 Date Night Ideas To Reignite Your Passion"

• Life Force 5 (Comfort): "How To Create A Calm Home With 5 Kids Under 6"

• Life Force 6 (Achievement): "From Cubicle to Corner Office: Your 90-Day Success Plan"

• Life Force 7 (Protection): "The Ultimate Guide To Estate Planning"

• Life Force 8 (Approval): "10 Conversation Starters That Never Fail"

Do you feel it?

Each of the above examples taps into a core human desire. And when you apply these principles to your own writing, the results can be explosive.

I learned this firsthand on Quora.

I had an answer go full-blown viral, landing on the front page of Reddit. It was a short answer, barely two paragraphs, but was paired with a Before & After photo of me and my journey as a bodybuilder. It went on to accumulate over 1.1M views.

Overnight, my inbox flooded with emails from people saying, "That picture on the left, that skinny kid is me. How can I end up like you there, on the right?"

Why did it resonate so deeply?

Because it provided real value to the reader at a subconscious, primal level.

It tapped into Life Force 6: Feeling superior or accomplished.

By showing that transformation was possible, I was giving readers hope and a roadmap to their own success. That's the kind of value that resonates on a gut level.

This is the power of understanding and leveraging the 8 Life Forces in your writing.

How You Can Use The Life Force 8

1. Start by identifying your target audience's primary desire.

2. Next, choose the most relevant Life Force(s) for your topic.

3. Then write a headline to speak directly to the desire.

4. Then, in the body, explain how your reader can fulfill their desire.

5. Use storytelling to make the benefits tangible and relatable.

6. Focus on the transformation your readers will experience.

Simple.

But it’s easier said than done. So, I put together an AI prompt to help

Here’s the prompt: